Automotive design is an odd beast that usually ends up being a product of compromise and costs concerns after long hours in board meetings and design studios filled with creative minds that don’t always agree. One man, however, has broken that tradition and designed a car from the ground up to be a single entity, appealing to both the male and female buyer through specific design elements and featured content.

Timur Bozca is that man and his Bozca Zest concept->ke169 is a truly unique piece of automotive design. The philosophy behind the Zest is, according to Bozca, one of equality between the sexes and what each desires in a vehicle. Men look for performance and stunning designs, while women desire creature comforts, useful interiors, and storage space.

Not only is the Zest an exercise in clever design, but its powertrain is something to be admired. An Audi->ke14-sourced, 2.5-liter, turbocharged five-cylinder with direct injection makes its home under the hood and produces 335 horsepower and 331 pound-feet of torque. The gasoline engine does not power the car, however. Rather, four synchronized electric motors at each wheel receive power from the gas engine and 84 kg (185-pound) on-board batteries to propel the Zest forward – with the ability to hit 62 mph from in just 5.5 seconds. Regenerative braking, photovoltaic panels on the transparent roof, and full-on, plug-in-hybrid->ke147 capabilities (PHEV) mean the Zest is highly efficient while being performance oriented.

The Zest also boasts a composite chassis that aids in reducing the car’s overall weight to just 1,200 kg (2645 pounds). Carbon fiber is used extensively and is even employed in crash zones to help absorb impacts. The body panels are comprised of a sandwiched material of linen and cork bonded together with epoxy resin. The result is a lightweight, yet strong exterior that also boasts a drag coefficient of only 0.35 Cd.

Click past the jump for more info and photos of the Bozca Zest Concept

2013 Bozca Zest Concept

Specifications
  • Make: Array
  • Model: 2013 Bozca Zest Concept
  • Engine/Motor: inline-5
  • Horsepower: 335
  • Torque: 331
  • [do not use] Vehicle Model: Array

Bozca Zest Concept In Detail

Design

The forward-thinking, futuristic design features a full-glass roof that flows from the A-pillars down to the rear bumper and lends itself to an airy, open feeling in the cabin. Sculpted sides accentuate the butterfly doors, which open like those found on Lamborghinis->ke44. The blacked-out wheels were inspired by water lilies and are constructed from recycled aluminum.

The Creator

Designer and Zest creator Timur Bozca is perhaps better know for his design work with luxury yachts. He holds a masters degree from Coventry University where he studied design, naval architecture, and engineering. He has worked with Aston Martin, Ricardo, Miss Tor Yacht, and BST Muhendislik yachts before starting his Zest project.